In many countries around the globe, women tend to be the ones using and managing water in the home day to day. According to a report UNICEF released in 2012, women in 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa spend a combined total of at least 16 million hours each day collecting drinking water, compared with 6 million hours for men and 4 million hours for children.

Yet women largely aren’t represented when it comes to positions dealing with water, sanitation, and hygiene (which many international organizations abbreviate as WASH).

This article explains why this is a problem – and the positive changes that can happen when women are actively involved in managing water resources for their families and communities.

“In 71 percent of all households without water on the premises, women or girls are mainly responsible for water collection. In 29 percent of households, men or boys assume this task.”

—UNICEF Report: “Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation”

Read the full story: CityLab
Photo: Unsplash/Ibrahim Rifath